Carton



April Z, 1964 G. DEMBO 3,128,031

' CARTON Filed Aug. 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GERALD DEMBU A7' TOR/V5 Y April 7, 1964 DEMBQ 3,128,031

CARTON Filed Aug. 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 i l l INVENTOR. GERALDDEMBO BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,128,031 CARTQN Gerald Dernbo,850 Field Sh, Lakewood, Colo. Filed Aug. 10, 19519, Ser. No. 43,719 8Ciaims. (Cl. 229-7) This invention relates to cartons, and moreparticularly to cartons which may be reduced in size as the contentsthereof are used.

In modern-day homes and more particularly the kitchen, storage space hasbecome increasingly scarce, with the advent of numerous electricalappliances, cooking utensils, packaged food, and cooking products.Today, many products are packaged in cardboard cartons, such as drycereal, dog meal, soap powders, sugar and other products. With suchcartons, no matter how much of the product has been used from thecarton, the carton retains its original size and takes up as much spaceon the shelf as a full carton. Also, there is no way to tell when acarton is practically empty so that an additional supply may be ordered,without removing the carton from the shelf and looking inside. Many ofthese prodnets are packaged in large, economy size boxes whichmultiplies the storage problems.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a carton whichdecreases in size as the contents are used; to provide a carton whichsaves storage space; to provide a carton which may be reduced in size sothat several cartons may be stacked one upon the other; to provide acarton which provides an indication of the amount of the contentstherein and an indication when it is nearly empty and another cartonshould be purchased; to provide a carton which may be reduced in size bysuccessively discarding portions thereof as the contents are used; toprovide a carton which when partly empty is substantially smaller thanthe original full carton, thereby being more compact and saving space;and to provide a novel carton which may be reduced in size as itscontents are used but for which the initial manufacturing cost is notunduly increased over prior conventional cartons.

Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will becomeapparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a novel carton of this invention,showing the front, top and one side;

FIG. 2 is a condensed, rear perspective view of the carton of FIG. 1,showing the back, top and the same side as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective view, on an enlarged scale,showing the opposite side and a portion of the top and back of thecarton;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, butshowing the carton with an upper section removed and a portion of theback bent down to form a new top for the carton; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 4, but showing the cartonwith two upper sections removed and another portion of the back foldeddown to form a new top for the carton.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a carton constructed in accordance with thisinvention is basically a conventional carton having a front 10, a back11, a first side 12 integral with the front and back, a second side 13integral with the adjacent edge of front and attached, as by adhesive,to a flange 14 which is folded forwardly from the adjacent edge of back11, as seen in FIG. 1. The top of the carton is conveniently formed by alower flap 15 folded rearwardly from the top edge of front 10 and anupper flap 16 folded forwardly from the top edge of back 11. Upper flap16 extends over a portion of lower ice flap 15 and is attachedtherealong, as by a suitable adhesive, to seal the carton. Flaps mayalso extend inwardly from the upper edge of each side, beneath the topflaps 15 and 16, such short flaps being conventional and therefore notshown. The bottom of the carton may be formed in substantially the samemanner as the top, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, by an inner flap 17 foldedforwardly from back 11 and an outer flap 18 folded rearwardly from front10, extending over a portion of inner flap 17 and attached thereto, asby a suitable adhesive. Although the carton will be described as acereal box, it will be understood that the car-ton of this invention maybe used for other products, such as dog meal, soap flakes, sugar orother items, in which the contents of the carton are used over a periodof time. An opening tab 19 is provided at the center of top flap 16,which may be used to break the seal between flaps 15 and 16 and provideaccess to the contents of the carton. In the conventional carton, afterthe desired amount of the contents has been removed, the flaps are againfolded to the position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, in the conventionalcarton, no matter how much of the contents have been used, the cartonretains its original size, taking up as much space on a shelf or otherstorage space as a full carton.

With the carton of this invention, however, the carton may be reduced insize as the contents are used. This is accomplished by providing a pairof lateral, parallel rows of perforations 2t and 21 across front 10,side 12, and side 13. Perfor-ations 20' are spaced approximately thesame distance from the top of the carton as the width of the sides,while perforations 21 are spaced approximately the same distance belowthe row of perforations 20. Also, a row of perforations 22 extendsupwardly along the intersection of side 12 and back 11, as shown in FIG.3, from perforations 21 to the top of the car-ton. The portion of front10 and sides 12 and 13 above perforations 20, including inner flap 15,forms a first removable section S, while the portion of front 10 andsides 12 and 13 between perforations 21B and 221 forms a secondremovable section S. These sections may be removed successively as thecontents of the carton are used to reduce the height of the carton.Although two removable sections have been shown, a single removablesection or three or more removable sections may be provided, dependingon the size of the carton and the rate at which its contents areexpected to be used. To facilitate removal of section S, a tab 23extends rearwardly from side 13 at the center of section 8', to permitseparating section S and separation of side 13 where it is adhered alongflange 14, and similarly to facilitate removal of section S, a tab 24extends rear-wardly from side 13 at the center of section S.

When the contents of the carton have reached a level below perforations20, it is merely necessary to pull outwardly on tab 23 to break the sealbetween side 13 and flange 14, separate side 13 along the perforationsand then across front 10 and side 12, and finally upwardly alongperforations 22, completely separating section S from the rest of thecarton. When the contents of the carton have reached a level belowperforations 21, section S may be removed by pulling on tab 24, to pullside 13 from flange 14 and separate side 13 along perforations 21, thenacross front 10 and side 12 and finally upwardly along perforations 22So that the carton may be more readily closed after section S and thensection S have been removed, the back 11 has a pair of parallel scorelines 25 and 26 which are spaced from the top of the carton the samedistance as perforations 20 and 21, respectively, as seen in FIG. 2.Also, flange 14 is provided with perforations 27 and 28 which arelikewise spaced .2 from the top of the carton the same distance asperforations 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, once section Shas been removed, it is merely necessary to fold the top portion offlange 14 inwardly, causing it to tear along perforations 27. Next, theback is folded downwardly and forwardly along scoreline 25, from thedotted to the full position shown in FIG. 4, so that the top portion 30thereof forms a new top for the carton and the top flap 16 extendsinside the box behind front 10, with portion 31 of flange 14 beneath thethen top 3%. In a conventional cereal box which is 9 inches high, 6%inches wide and 2 inches deep, in accordance with the spacing ofperforations 29 as previously described, the top portion 30 of back 11will be 2 inches in height, thus providing the correct dimensions for anew top. Thus in the conventional 9 inch cereal box, there willimmediately be a saving of 27 cubic inches when the contents of the boxreach a level below the row of perforations 20 by removing section S.Upon further use of the contents, additional space may be saved, oncethe level of the contents is below the level of perforations 21, byremoving section S, as described above.

After section S is separated from the rest of the carton and the cartonis to be closed, the next portion 32 of flange 14 is folded inwardly,causing it to be torn along perforations 28 and then a second portion 33of the back is 'folded downwardly and forwardly, along score line 26, toform a new top for the carton, as in FIG. 5. At the same time, flap 16is folded back under portion 30 with previously separated portion 31 offlange 14 between one end of portion 3% and flap 16, not shown in FIG.for clarity of illustration, and portion 30 is placed down inside thebox behind front 10. Thus, once the level of the contents of carton Cdecreases below the line of perforations 21, the height of a 9 inchcarton may be reduced by 4 inches, resulting in a space saving ofapproximately 56 cubic inches. Since sections S and S are torn from thecarton as it is used, they may be folded flat before being discarded.Since the spacing between perforations 20 and 21 and between scorelines25 and 26 is equal to the width of sides 12 and 13, portion 31 will havejust the right dimensions to form a new top for the carton. Also, oncethe size of the box has been reduced by the height of section S or alsosection S, one carton, such as containing cereal, may be stacked uponanother, depending upon the height of the shelf. Since the averagekitchen shelf is at least 14 inches high, it will be possible to storetwo former 9 inch cartons one upon the other after section S has beenremoved from each.

Because the size of the carton may be reduced, it is possible for theuser to easily and quickly observe the the approximate amount of cerealor other product left in the carton, so that an additional supply may bese cured when the carton reaches a level below perforations 21. Previousto the present invention, it was necessary for one to pick up thecarton, open it, and look inside, before marketing, so that one coulddetermine when an additional carton of the product should be purchased.

Finally, it will be evident that the present invention does not resultin ay increase in the cost of manufacture of the carton since noadditional material is required. It is merely necessary when making anew die or altering an old die, to provide means for forming tabs 23 and24 and perforations 20, 21, 22, 27 and 28 and to form score lines 25 and26. However, this is a simple matter and will not result in anyappreciable increase in production cost, since the blanking, assemblyand gluing operations are the same as for prior conventional cartons. Aswill be evident, the perforations 20, 21, 22, 27 and 28 and score lines25 and 26 are readily formed during the blanking operation. Theperforations need not extend completely through the wall of the carton,since a suflicient depth of the perforations to permit separation alongthe lines of the perforations is available. Thus, as used here- A as.

in, the term perforations includes partial as well as completeperforations.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a carton constructed inaccordance with this invention fulfills to a marked degree therequirements and objects hereinbefore set forth. By providing a cartonwith removable sections S and S, the size of the box can be decreased bysequentially tearing the sections from the carton as the contentsthereof are used. This is accomplished by merely pulling outwardly on atab disposed at one edge of each section and tearing along theperforations across the side, front and opposite side, then up along theback. Then the back of the carton is folded along a score line, so thatthe upper portion thereof forms a new top for the carton and the outerflap slips inside the front of the box. Furthermore, once the cartonshave been reduced in size, at least two cartons may be stacked one uponthe other, thereby saving additional space on a shelf or other storageplace. When a 9 inch carton is completely empty, it is only slightlymore than half its original size, so that it will take up a lesseramount of space in a wastebasket. Also, the change in the size of thecarton provides an indication of the level of the contents within thecarton, so that an additional supply may be ordered when needed As willbe evident, the principles of this invention may be applied to cartonsof various sizes and adapted to contain various types of products ormaterials, as well as cartons having other types of tops and bottoms.Also, various other changes may be made, such as placing tabs 23 and 2closer to back 11, providing a vertical row of perforations in flange 14similar to perforations 22, and others. Thus, other embodiments of thisinvention may exist, without departing from the spirit and scopethereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton having a front, a back, a bottom interconnecting said frontand said back, a first side interconnecting said front and said back, asecond side integral with said front and sealed to a flange extendingforwardly from the corresponding side edge of said back, and a topincluding a flap which folds forwardly from the upper edge of said back,the improvement which comprises a removable section including theuppermost portion of said front, said first side and said second side; alateral row of perforations extending across said first side, said frontand said second side at a distance spaced from said top corresponding tothe height of said removable section; a vertical row of perforations atthe intersection of said first side and said back extending from saidlateral row of perforations to the top of said carton; a row ofperforations across said flange, spaced from said top the same distancesaid lateral row of perforations is spaced from said top, so that saidsection may be removed from said carton along said lateral row ofperforations and the upper portion of said flange torn along said row ofperforations and folded against the upper portion of said back, whichmay be bent forwardly to form a new top for said carton and said flapslid behind the remainder of said front, inside said carton.

2. A carton as set forth in claim 1, in which said lateral row ofperforations and said row of perforations on said flange are spaced fromsaid top of said carton a distance equal to the width of said sides sothat said upper portion of said back forms a new top extending to saidfront of said carton when said section is separated from said carton,and said upper flap extends down into said carton behind the remainderof said front.

3. A carton having a front, a back, a bottom interconnecting said frontand said back, a first side interconnecting said front and said back, asecond side integral with said front and sealed to a flange extendingforwardly from the side edge of said back and a top having a lower flapwhich folds rearwardly from the upper edge of said front and an upperflap which folds forwardly from the upper edge of said back over aportion of said inner flap, the improvement comprising a first removablesection including the uppermost portion of said front, said first andsaid second sides and said inner flap and adapted to be separated fromsaid carton; and a second removable section below said first removablesection and including a portion of said front and said first and saidsecond sides and adapted to be separated from said carton, so that saidfirst section may be removed when the contents of said carton are belowsaid first section and said second section may be removed when saidcontents are below said second section, an uppermost portion of the backof said carton being adapted to form a top for said carton when saidfirst section is removed and a next uppermost portion of the back ofsaid carton being adapted to form a top for said carton when said secondsection is removed.

4. A carton as set forth in claim 3, including a first lateral row ofperforations extending across said first side, said front and saidsecond side, between said first section and said second section; and asecond lateral row of perforations extending across said first side,said front, and said second side, between said second section and theremainder of said carton; and a vertical row of perforations at theintersection of said first side and said back, extending upwardly fromthe said second lateral row of perforations to said top, so that saidfirst section and said second section may be torn from said carton whensaid contents are below said first and second lateral rows ofperforations, respectively.

5. A carton as set forth in claim 4, including a tab of said firstsection extending rearwardly from said second side past the sealedportion of said second side and said flange, thereby providing means forseparating said first section from the remainder of said carton; and atab of said second section extending rearwardly from said second sidepast said sealed portion of said second side and said flange, therebyproviding means for separating said second section from the remainder ofsaid carton.

6. A carton as set forth in claim 5, in which a first score line extendslaterally across said back and is spaced from said top the same distanceas said first lateral row of perforations, so that the uppermost portionof said back may be folded forwardly along said score line to form a newtop for said carton after said first section is removed; and a secondscore line extends laterally across said back and is spaced from saidtop the same distance as said second lateral row of perforations, sothat the portion of said back between said first and second score linesmay be folded forwardly along said second score line to form a new topfor said carton after said second section is removed.

7. A carton as set forth in claim 6, including a first row ofperforations across said flange, spaced from said top the same distanceas said first lateral row of perforations, so that the uppermost portionof said flange may be separated along said first row of perforations andfolded against said upper portion of said back when said upper portionis folded forwardly along said first score line to form said new top forsaid carton after said first section has been separated from saidcarton; and a second row of perforations across said flange, spaced fromsaid top the same distance as said second lateral row of perforations,so that the portion of said flange between said first and second rows ofperforations may be separated along said second row of perforations andfolded against said portion of said back between said first and secondscore lines when said portion is folded forwardly along said secondscore line to form a new top for said carton, after said second sectionhas been separated from the remainder of said carton.

8. A carton as set forth in claim 7, in which said first lateral row ofperforations, said first row of perforations across said flange and saidfirst score line are spaced from said top a distance equal to the widthof said sides and said second lateral row of perforations, said secondrow of perforations across said flange and said second score line arespaced from said first row of perforations and said first score line adistance equal to the width of said sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,145,430 New Jan. 31, 1939 2,179,504 Hasbrook Nov. 14, 1939 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,183,269 France Jan. 26, 1959

1. A CARTON HAVING A FRONT, A BACK, A BOTTOM INTERCONNECTING SAID FRONTAND SAID BACK, A FIRST SIDE INTERCONNECTING SAID FRONT AND SAID BACK, ASECOND SIDE INTEGRAL WITH SAID FRONT AND SEALED TO A FLANGE EXTENDINGFORWARDLY FROM THE CORRESPONDING SIDE EDGE OF SAID BACK, AND A TOPINCLUDING A FLAP WHICH FOLDS FORWARDLY FROM THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BACK,THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A REMOVABLE SECTION INCLUDING THEUPPERMOST PORTION OF SAID FRONT, SAID FIRST SIDE AND SAID SECOND SIDE; ALATERAL ROW OF PERFORATIONS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FIRST SIDE, SAID FRONTAND SAID SECOND SIDE AT A DISTANCE SPACED FROM SAID TOP CORRESPONDING TOTHE HEIGHT OF SAID REMOVABLE SECTION; A VERTICAL ROW OF PERFORATIONS ATTHE INTERSECTION OF SAID FIRST SIDE AND SAID BACK EXTENDING FROM SAIDLATERAL ROW OF PERFORATIONS TO THE TOP OF SAID CARTON; A ROW OFPERFORATIONS ACROSS SAID FLANGE, SPACED FROM SAID TOP THE SAME DISTANCESAID LATERAL ROW OF PERFORATIONS IS SPACED FROM SAID TOP, SO THAT SAIDSECTION MAY BE REMOVED FROM SAID CARTON ALONG SAID LATERAL ROW OFPERFORATIONS AND THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FLANGE TORN ALONG SAID ROW OFPERFORATIONS AND FOLDED AGAINST THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BACK, WHICHMAY BE BENT FORWARDLY TO FORM A NEW TOP FOR SAID CARTON AND SAID FLAPSLID BEHIND THE REMAINDER OF SAID FRONT, INSIDE SAID CARTON.